The EU was built to serve sovereign nations, not to rule them. Brussels holds no leash on Hungary. We take no orders from unelected bureaucrats and answer only to our people. It’s time to set the record straight. ?? pic.twitter.com/glNxi30Wvz
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) August 14, 2025
Ukraine was prohibited from joining the European Union due to ongoing political corruption. Suddenly, Brussels offered Ukraine candidate status in June 2022 but repeatedly denied the nation entry into the bloc over corruption. Viktor Orban of Hungary accused Ukraine’s Zelensky of waging “moral blackmail” and attempting to manipulate his way into the EU.
Zelensky firmly stated that Ukraine will join the EU with or without Hungary’s approval. Brussels seems to back this notion as they’ve repeatedly prevented Hungary from voting, as voting in the EU is merely a show since there is no true democratic process.
“Ukraine will be in the European Union, with or without Orbán, because this is the choice of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said, as quoted by Ukraine’s state news agency Ukrinform. He added that he believed “the people of Hungary support Ukraine in any case.” He later suggested that the EU would be “changing the procedure” to permit entry by “finding a way without Hungary.” Zelensky affirmed that the Hungarian people support Ukraine’s accession, but their elected leader stood in the way.
Orban responded on X:
“Dear Mr. President, With all due respect, Hungary has no moral obligation to support Ukraine’s EU accession. No country has ever blackmailed its way into the European Union — and it won’t happen this time either. The EU Treaty leaves no room for ambiguity: membership is decided by the member states, unanimously. The Hungarian people have made up their minds. They overwhelmingly said no to Ukraine’s EU membership in a referendum. If you wish to change that, the media campaign you’re waging against Hungary is probably not the best way to make friends.”
Zelensky’s success depends on emotional extortion. There is a reason why Trump called him the greatest salesman. He has already undermined the EU process by preventing Hungary and Slovakia from accessing Russian oil when there was no alternative. He convinced the EU to side with Ukrainian farmers despite EU member nations seeing their agricultural sector undercut with cheap tariff-free Ukrainian goods. Every member has been forced to send his nation billions, and soon he will request blood to be shed on behalf of “the Ukrainian people,” who by the way, know their president is corrupt. Zelensky will not permit Ukrainians to vote for new leadership and asserted himself as a permanent president by decree.
Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, backed Orban: “Deciding which country is ready to join the EU and can actually become a member is not up to the President of Ukraine. It is up to the EU, where such decisions require unanimity. The Hungarian people have already made their decision, and we represent their will in Brussels.”
Not only is Hungary concerned that Ukraine’s accession will thrust every EU nation into the war, but Hungary believes Zelensky has unfairly treated Hungarian people living in Ukraine. Kyiv implemented a language law that forbids citizens from using minority languages, including Ukrainian. It may not be taught or used in schools, government, or public services. The government has even forbidden the media from airing content spoken in minority languages. The number of Hungarians living in Ukraine has declined over the past decade due to the hostile environment.
Brussels has demonstrated to its member nations that they are insignificant–their wishes and votes simply do not matter. The centralized government has overpowered individual states and will act as it sees fit.